Nemesia plant named ‘Sunjonpiho’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Nemesia  plant named ‘Sunjonpiho’, characterized by its upright and mounded growth habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; long flowering period; purple violet, red purple and white-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Nemesia denticulata×Nemesia caerulea.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNJONPIHO’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia plant, botanically known as Nemesia denticulata×Nemesia caerulea and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunjonpiho’.

The new Nemesia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in St. Brides Netherwent, Monmouthshire, Wales. The objective of the breeding program is to create new mounding and freely-branching Nemesia plants with unique and attractive flower coloration.

The new Nemesia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in June, 2007 in St. Brides Netherwent, Monmouthshire, Wales of a proprietary selection of Nemesia denticulata×Nemesia caerulea identified as code number 7NDZP, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Nemesia denticulata×Nemesia caerulea identified as code number 7NDZK, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Nemesia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in St. Brides Netherwent, Monmouthshire, Wales in April, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Nemesia plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in St. Brides Netherwent, Monmouthshire, Wales since May, 2008, has shown that the unique features of this new Nemesia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Nemesia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunjonpiho’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunjonpiho’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia plant:

-   -   1. Upright and mounded growth habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Long flowering period.     -   5. Purple violet, red purple and white-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Nemesia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Nemesia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have pink and white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Nemesia can be compared to plants of the male paren selection. Plants of the new Nemesia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have dark pink and orange-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Nemesia can also be compared to plants of ‘Mellow Rose White’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Nemesia differed from plants of ‘Mellow Rose White’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Nemesia were shorter than plants of ‘Mellow         Rose White’.     -   2. Plants of the new Nemesia had longer leaves than plants of         ‘Mellow Rose White’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Nemesia were not fragrant         whereas flowers of plants of ‘Mellow Rose White’ were fragrant.     -   4. Plants of the new Nemesia and ‘Mellow Rose White’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Mellow Rose White’ had pink to light         pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Nemesia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Nemesia plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunjonpiho’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Sunjonpiho’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the winter in 15-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and under commercial practice. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 15° C. and night temperatures averaged 5° C. Plants were four months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Nemesia denticulata×Nemesia caerulea     ‘Sunjonpiho’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Nemesia             denticulata×Nemesia caerulea identified as code number             7NDZP, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Nemesia             denticulata×Nemesia caerulea identified as code number             7NDZK, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About one week at temperatures of             20° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 20 days at             temperatures of 15° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and mounded growth habit;             freely branching with two lateral branches potentially             forming at every node; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 22 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 27.8 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 18.4 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.8 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.9 cm.         -   Aspect.—Mostly upright.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 146B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 3.4 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse to rounded.         -   Margin.—Shallowly serrate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 137A; venation, close to 144A. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B; venation,             close to 144A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.1 mm. Diameter: About 1.7 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Bilabiate solitary flowers             arranged on terminal racemes; flowering acropetally towards             the apex; flowers facing mostly outwardly; freely flowering             habit with about eight flowers per raceme and about 33             racemes developing per plant.         -   Fragrance.—Not detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—In Japan, plants flower naturally             from early spring to early summer; flowering continuous             during this period; early flowering habit, flowers begin             flowering about three months after planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about five to seven days on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 4.8 cm.         -   Flower size (diameter by length).—About 2.3 cm by 1.9 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1.7 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Shape: Obovate. Length: About 10.8 mm.             Diameter: About 5.6 mm. Color: Close to 64D.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Five modified petals; four upper petals             fused forming an upright lobed and arched banner lip; lower             petal modified into a larger lip with convex oval             protuberance serving as a nectar guide and insect landing             platform. Shape, upper lip: Elliptic. Shape, lower lip:             Reniform. Apex, upper lip: Rounded to truncate. Apex, lower             lip: Cordate. Margin, upper lip: Entire; undulate. Margin,             lower lip: Entire; undulate. Length, upper lip: About             16.3 mm. Length, lower lip: About 11.1 mm. Width, upper lip:             About 5 mm to 10 mm. Width, lower lip: About 18.3 mm.             Texture, upper and lower lips, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper lip: When opening, upper             surface: Close to 70B; towards the throat, close to N82A;             center, close to 2B. When opening, lower surface: Close to             77C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to N74C and N80C;             towards the throat, close to N82A; center, close to 2B.             Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 77D. Color, lower lip:             When opening, upper surface: Close to NN155C with streaks             along the margin, close to 70B; nectar guide, close to 17B.             When opening, lower surface: Close to 76B. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to NN155A with streaks along the             margin, close to 77B; nectar guide, close to 17B; color does             not fade with development. Fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 76B.         -   Spur.—Length: About 5.6 mm. Diameter: About 1.7 mm. Color:             Close to N77D.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Calyx star-shaped with five sepals             fused at the base. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin:             Entire. Length: About 3.2 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 137B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.8 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong; flexible. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to 146B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 10.8 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong; flexible. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to 146D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Four per             flower. Stamen length: About 1.5 mm to 3 mm. Anther shape:             Narrowly elliptic. Anther size: About 1 mm by 0.5 mm. Anther             color: Close to 15C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:             Close to 15C. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil             length: About 1.4 mm. Style color: Close to 145B. Stigma             shape: Ovate. Stigma color: Close to 145B. Ovary color:             Close to 146D. Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Nemesia. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Nemesia have not been     observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to Nemesia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Nemesia have been observed     have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from 5° C. to 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct Nemesia plant named ‘Sunjonpiho’ as illustrated and described. 